of　the　night　was　vocal　with　the　chirping　of　crickets；　the
  reflections　of　the　trees　hung　motionless　in　the　lake；　and　with
  his　staff　in　his　hand　he　stood；　tall　and　straight　and　still；　like
  a　forest　tree。　　It　seemed　to　me　that　I　had；　on　opening　my　eyes；
  died　to　all　realities　of　life　and　undergone　a　dream　birth　into　a
  shadow　land。　　Shame　slipped　to　my　feet　like　loosened　clothes。　　I
  heard　his　call〃Beloved；　my　most　beloved！〃　　And　all　my　forgotten
  lives　united　as　one　and　responded　to　it。　　I　said；　〃Take　me；　take
  all　I　am！〃　　And　I　stretched　out　my　arms　to　him。　　The　moon　set
  behind　the　trees。　　One　curtain　of　darkness　covered　all。　　Heaven
  and　earth；　time　and　space；　pleasure　and　pain；　death　and　life
  merged　together　in　an　unbearable　ecstasy。　。　。　。　With　the　first
  gleam　of　light；　the　first　twitter　of　birds；　I　rose　up　and　sat
  leaning　on　my　left　arm。　　He　lay　asleep　with　a　vague　smile　about
  his　lips　like　the　crescent　moon　in　the　morning。　　The　rosy　red
  glow　of　the　dawn　fell　upon　his　noble　forehead。　　I　sighed　and
  stood　up。　　I　drew　together　the　leafy　lianas　to　screen　the
  streaming　sun　from　his　face。　　I　looked　about　me　and　saw　the　same
  old　earth。　　I　remembered　what　I　used　to　be；　and　ran　and　ran　like
  a　deer　afraid　of　her　own　shadow；　through　the　forest　path　strewn
  with　shephali　flowers。　　I　found　a　lonely　nook；　and　sitting　down
  covered　my　face　with　both　hands；　and　tried　to　weep　and　cry。　　But
  no　tears　came　to　my　eyes。
  Madana
  Alas；　thou　daughter　of　mortals！　　I　stole　from　the　divine
  Storehouse　the　fragrant　wine　of　heaven；　filled　with　it　one
  earthly　night　to　the　brim；　and　placed　it　in　thy　hand　to　drink
  yet　still　I　hear　this　cry　of　anguish！
  Chitra　＇bitterly＇
  Who　drank　it？　　The　rarest　completion　of　life's　desire；　the　first
  union　of　love　was　proffered　to　me；　but　was　wrested　from　my　grasp？
  This　borrowed　beauty；　this　falsehood　that　enwraps　me；　will　slip
  from　me　taking　with　it　the　only　monument　of　that　sweet　union；　as
  the　petals　fall　from　an　overblown　flower；　and　the　woman　ashamed
  of　her　naked　poverty　will　sit　weeping　day　and　night。　　Lord　Love；
  this　cursed　appearance　companions　me　like　a　demon　robbing　me　of
  all　the　prizes　of　loveall　the　kisses　for　which　my　heart　is
  athirst。
  Madana
  Alas；　how　vain　thy　single　night　had　been！　　The　barque　of　joy　came
  in　sight；　but　the　waves　would　not　let　it　touch　the　shore。
  Chitra
  Heaven　came　so　close　to　my　hand　that　I　forgot　for　a　moment　that
  it　had　not　reached　me。　　But　when　I　woke　in　the　morning　from　my
  dream　I　found　that　my　body　had　become　my　own　rival。　　It　is　my
  hateful　task　to　deck　her　every　day；　to　send　her　to　my　beloved　and
  see　her　caressed　by　him。　　O　god；　take　back　thy　boon！
  Madana
  But　if　I　take　it　from　you　how　can　you　stand　before　your　lover？
  To　snatch　away　the　cup　from　his　lips　when　he　has　scarcely　drained
  his　first　draught　of　pleasure；　would　not　that　be　cruel？　　With
  what　resentful　anger　he　must　regard　thee　then？
  Chitra
  That　would　be　better　far　than　this。　　I　will　reveal　my　true　self
  to　him；　a　nobler　thing　than　this　disguise。　　If　he　rejects　it；　if
  he　spurns　me　and　breaks　my　heart；　I　will　bear　even　that　in
  silence。
  Vasanta
  Listen　to　my　advice。　　When　with　the　advent　of　autumn　the
  flowering　season　is　over　then　comes　the　triumph　of　fruitage。　　A
  time　will　come　of　itself　when　the　heat…cloyed　bloom　of　the　body
  will　droop　and　Arjuna　will　gladly　accept　the　abiding　fruitful
  truth　in　thee。　　O　child；　go　back　to　thy　mad　festival。
  SCENE　IV
  Chitra
  WHY　do　you　watch　me　like　that；　my　warrior？
  Arjuna
  I　watch　how　you　weave　that　garland。　　Skill　and　grace；　the　twin
  brother　and　sister；　are　dancing　playfully　on　your　finger　tips。　　I
  am　watching　and　thinking。
  Chitra
  What　are　you　thinking；　sir？
  Arjuna
  I　am　thinking　that　you；　with　this　same　lightness　of　touch　and
  sweetness；　are　weaving　my　days　of　exile　into　an　immortal　wreath；
  to　crown　me　when　I　return　home。
  Chitra
  Home！　　But　this　love　is　not　for　a　home！
  Arjuna
  Not　for　a　home？
  Chitra
  No。　　Never　talk　of　that。　　Take　to　your　home　what　is　abiding　and
  strong。　　Leave　the　little　wild　flower　where　it　was　born；　leave　it
  beautifully　to　die　at　the　day's　end　among　all　fading　blossoms　and
  decaying　leaves。　　　Do　not　take　it　to　your　palace　hall　to　fling　it
  on　the　stony　floor　which　knows　no　pity　for　things　that　fade　and
  are　forgotten。
  Arjuna
  Is　ours　that　kind　of　love？
  Chitra
  Yes；　no　other！　　Why　regret　it？　　That　which　was　meant　for　idle
  days　should　never　outlive　them。　　Joy　turns　into　pain　when　the
  door　by　which　it　should　depart　is　shut　against　it。　　Take　it　and
  keep　it　as　long　as　it　lasts。　　Let　not　the　satiety　of　your　evening
  claim　more　than　the　desire　of　your　morning　could　earn。　。　。　。　The
  day　is　done。　　Put　this　garland　on。　　I　am　tired。　　Take　me　in　your
  arms；　my　love。　　Let　all　vain　bickerings　of　discontent　die　away　at
  the　sweet　meeting　of　our　lips。
  Arjuna
  Hush！　　Listen；　my　beloved；　the　sound　of　prayer　bells　from　the
  distant　village　temple　steals　upon　the　evening　air　across　the
  silent　trees！
  SCENE　V
  Vasanta
  I　CANNOT　keep　pace　with　thee；　my　friend！　　I　am　tired。　　It　is　a
  hard　task　to　keep　alive　the　fire　thou　hast　kindled。　　Sleep
  overtakes　me；　the　fan　drops　from　my　hand；　and　cold　ashes　cover
  the　glow　of　the　fire。　　I　start　up　again　from　my　slumber　and　with
  all　my　might　rescue　the　weary　flame。　　But　this　can　go　on　no
  longer。
  Madana
  I　know；　thou　art　as　fickle　as　a　child。　　Ever　restless　is　thy　play
  in　heaven　and　on　earth。　　Things　that　thou　for　days　buildest　up
  with　endless　detail　thou　dost　shatter　in　a　moment　without　regret。
  But　this　work　of　ours　is　nearly　finished。　　Pleasure…winged　days
  fly　fast；　and　the　year；　almost　at　its　end；　swoons　in　rapturous
  bliss。
  SCENE　VI
  Arjuna
  I　WOKE　in　the　morning　and　found　that　my　dreams　had　distilled　a
  gem。　　I　have　no　casket　to　inclose　it；　no　king's　crown　whereon　to
  fix　it；　no　chain　from　which　to　hang　it；　and　yet　have　not　the
  heart　to　throw　it　away。　　My　Kshatriya's　right　arm；　idly　occupied
  in　holding　it；　forgets　its　duties。
  Enter　CHITRA。
  Chitra
  Tell　me　your　thoughts；　sir！
  Arjuna
  My　mind　is　busy　with　thoughts　of　hunting　today。　　See；　how　the
  rain　pours　in　torrents　and　fiercely　beats　upon　the　hillside。　　The
  dark　shadow　of　the　clouds　hangs　heavily　over　the　forest；　and　the
  swollen　stream；　like　reckless　youth；　overleaps　all　barriers　with
  mocking　laughter。　　On　such　rainy　days　we　five　brothers　would　go
  to　the　Chitraka　forest　to　chase　wild　beasts。　　Those　were　glad
  times。　Our　hearts　danced　to　the　drumbeat　of　rumbling　clouds。　　The
  woods　resounded　with　the　screams　of　peacocks。　　Timid　deer　could
  not　hear　our　approaching　steps　for　the　patter　of　rain　and　the
  noise　of　waterfalls；　the　leopards　would　leave　their　tracks　on　the
  wet　earth；　betraying　their　lairs。　　Our　sport　over；　we　dared　each
  other　to　swim　across　turbulent　streams　on　our　way　back　home。　　The
  restless　spirit　is　on　me。　　I　long　to　go　hunting。
  Chitra
  First　run　down　the　quarry　you　are　now　following。　　Are　you　quite
  certain　that　the　enchanted　deer　you　pursue　must　needs　be　caught？
  No；　not　yet。　　Like　a　dream　the　wild　creature　eludes　you　when　it
  seems　most　nearly　yours。　　Look　how　the　wind　is　chased　by　the　mad
  rain　that　discharges　a　thousand　arrows　after　it。　　Yet　it　goes
  free　and　unconquered。　　Our　sport　is　like　that；　my　love！　　You　give
  chase　to　the　fleet…footed　spirit　of　beauty；　aiming　at　her　every
  dart　you　have　in　your　hands。　　Yet　this　magic　deer　runs　ever　free
  and　untouched。
  Arjuna
  My　love；　have　you　no　home　where　kind　hearts　are　waiting　for　your
  return？　　A　home　which　you　once　made　sweet　with　your　gentle
  service　and　whose　light　went　out　when　you　left　it　for　this
  wilderness？
  Chitra
  Why　these　questions？　　Are　the　hours　of　unthinking　pleasure　over？
  Do　you　not　know　that　I　am　no　more　than　what　you　see　before　you？
  For　me　there　is　no　vista　beyond。　　The　dew　that　hangs　on　the　tip
  of　a　Kinsuka　petal　has　neither　name　nor　destination。　　It　offers
  no　answer　to　any　qu